Horizontal component of projectile motion

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In projectile motion without air resistance, the horizontal component of velocity is treated as constant. This assumption holds true when the range is small enough to ignore Earth's curvature, allowing for a flat Earth approximation. The trajectory of the projectile, which is actually an ellipse, can be approximated as a parabola under these conditions. Understanding this concept is crucial for solving problems related to horizontal motion. This clarification helps in accurately calculating distances in projectile motion scenarios.
BogMonkey
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Unless there wind resistance do you always treat the horizontal velocity of a projectile as constant?
 
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In addition to no air resistance, the other assumption is that the range is small enough so you can ignore the curvature of the earth, and make a flat Earth approximation. That's what takes a trajectory that's really an ellipse and approximates it as a parabola. Then the horizontal component of velocity will be constant.
 
Thanks. I got a question on a test a while ago where I knew the velocity a ball was thrown horizontally off a roof and knew how far the ball went before it landed but I couldn't do the question because I was convinced horizontal velocity wasn't constant. Ah well now I know.
 

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